FG: Over 51% of farming areas in Nigeria at risk of flooding

The federal government says over 51 percent of farming areas in Nigeria are at risk of flooding.

Aliyu Abdullahi, the minister of state for agriculture and food security, spoke on Thursday at the agricultural insurance train-the-trainer workshop in Abuja.

Abdullahi said the 2024 flood outlook released by the ministry of water resources and sanitation, has identified 148 local government areas (LGAs) across 31 states as high flood-risk zones.

He said the report, published in the first quarter of the year, stated 249 LGAs in all 36 states — including the federal capital territory (FCT) — are categorised as moderate flood-risk areas.

“In simple terms, 397 LGAs out of the total 774 LGAs in Nigeria, representing over 51 percent of our farming areas are at risk of flooding,” the minister said.

“We are witnessing the clear and present existential threats of climate change and its impact on our local food systems.”

Abdullahi said the ministry is planning to collaborate with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) and PULA Advisors to integrate agricultural insurance into the national agricultural growth scheme agro-pocket (NAGS-AP) programme.

He said the reality of climate change has made it essential to integrate insurance as a crucial element of the NAGS programme in order to ensure sustainability and food security.

The NAGS-AP programme, according to the minister, began during the 2023 dry season with wheat cultivation and led to a bountiful harvest.

He, however, said the work does not stop with achieving good yields.

In a post on X, Abdullahi said the ministry’s primary responsibility is to safeguard the substantial investments and interventions made by the government in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), through the NAGS-AP programme.

“These initiatives are crucial for ensuring the sustainability and security of our local food systems, particularly as we confront the challenge of feeding a growing population,” he added.

The minister reiterated the ministry’s commitment to protecting farmers and securing the future of agriculture in the country in partnership with NAIC.